title: [Moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20) for intractable facial paralysis and its impacts on immunoglobulin].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the efficacy of moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20) on intractable facial paraly sis and the impacts on immune globulin IgA, IgG and IgM.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twenty cases of intractable facial paralysis that was in compliance with the inclusive criteria were randomized into a moxibustion group and an acupuncture group, 60 cases in each one. In the moxibustion group, moxibustion was applied at Baihui (GV 20). In the acupuncture group, the patients were treated with acupuncture, once a day, the treatment of 15 days made one session in two groups. Before treatment and after 2 sessions treatment, the levels of IgA, IgG and IgM were detected respectively for the patients in two groups and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The difference in the levels of IgA, IgG and IgM was not significant for the patients between two groups (all P > 0.05) before treatment, but the levels of all three indices were increased significantly as compared with the normal reference values (all P < 0.05). Componed before the treatment, the levels of IgA, IgG and IgM were reduced significantly in two groups after treatment, indicating the significant difference (all P < 0.05). In comparison between two groups after the treatment, the levels of IgA, IgG and IgM in the moxibustion group were lower significantly than those in the acupuncture group, presenting the significant difference after treatment (all P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The ottack of intractable facial paralysis is relevant with the abnormal increase of immunoglobulin. Moxibustion at Baihui (GV 20) reduces significantly the levels of IgA, IgG and IgM for the patients with intractable facial paraly sis, which is probably one of the mechanisms in the treatment of intractable facial paralysis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Examine, Affiliated Hospital of Gansu College of TCM, Lanzhou 730020, China. whw197710@163.com
authors.forename: Hong-Wei
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wen
authors.forename: Qing-Lin
authors.initials: QL
authors.lastname: Wei
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009071:Moxibustion; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007136:Immunoglobulins